The 36-year-old actor will star alongside Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker in the movie, which tells the tale of the battle between good and evil.

He will play the angel Gabriel in the project, which sees Bradley star as vengeful Lucifer, who raises a hellish army after he is cast out of heaven.

Dijmon Hounsou is also set to star as the angel of death Abdiel in the film, which is being directed Alex Proyas.

The movie - which is set to come to cinemas in 2013 - is expected to have a particularly unique visual appeal, and will be shot in 3-D.

Discussing the movie previously, Proyas said: "I've sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it's visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved. I don't think the visuals could have been done Justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects."